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Is Mike Redmond on the hot seat?

NEW YORK -- Reeling from a four-game sweep to the New York Mets that left the Marlins with the second-worst record in the majors at 3-10, manager Mike Redmond's job may be in jeopardy as the team heads to Philadelphia for a series with the Phillies that could dictate his fate.

According to sources who have heard rumblings, Redmond is on the hot seat and the the organization is already bouncing around possible replacements. One possibility: Wally Backman, the Mets' Triple A manager.

History has shown that Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria isn't shy about making managerial changes, as he canned Jeff Torborg in May of 2003, replacing him with Jack McKeon, after that eventual World Series team got off to a poor start. He also dumped Fredi Gonzalez in June of 2010 for Edwin Rodriguez when that team was struggling. He fired both Joe Girardi and Ozzie Guillen after just one season.

But would Loria go so far as to fire a manager less than 20 games into the season?

Sources said Loria is not happy with the team's play, and Giancarlo Stanton's post-game comments Friday suggesting the team lacked "fire," while in no way directed at the more laid-back style of Redmond, might have had the unintended effect of creating that impression. Loria has always had a strong preference for fiery managers. McKeon fit that bill, and Loria courted the demonstrative Bobby Valentine, as well as hiring Guillen, for those reasons.

So we'll see.

Following an offseason in which the front office revamped the roster with trades and free agent signings, many projected the Marlins to contend for a playoff spot. Now that they're off to a terrible start, everything is on the table, including Redmond's job. Even though Redmond was given a contract extension at the end of last season that takes him through 2017, it doesn't mean his job is secure. Guillen was fired after only one year of a four-year contract. The Marlins are still paying him.

Dropping the upcoming series to the Phillies -- a team that pretty much everyone has pegged for last in the N.L. East -- could carry major ramifications. Whether those involve Redmond remains to be seen.

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